Erasure-debris collecting device on typewriters and like machines



p 1953 w. ETTMULLER 2,653,695

ERASURE-DEBRIS COLLECTING msvxcza on TYPEWRITERS AND LIKE MACHINESFiIedAug. 2a, 1951 INVENTORY Wqll'er [rim/"115R 'AHov-mu Patented Sept.29, 1953 ERASURE-DEBRIS COLLECTING DEVICE ON TYPEWBITERS AND LIKEMACHINES Walter Ettmiiller, Zurich, Switzerland Application August 28,1951, Serial N 0. 244,062 In Switzerland August 30, 1950 3 Claims.

In'my copending application Ser. No. 58,905, filed on November 8, 1948,now Patent No. 2,583,259, issued January 22, 1952, I have disclosed anerasure-debris collecting device on type writers and like machines,which is swingably mounted on the carriage to be moved into and. out ofthe range of the platen and extends in the latters direction. The deviceis formed with a debris collecting trough from which extend two armsangularly disposedwith respect to each other. One of the said armsserves as an apron lying against the platen when in the operativeposition for collecting debris, and against the carriage when swung tothe non-operative position.

Such erasure-debis collecting device is further improved, as disclosedby my present invention, in that its collecting trough or gutter issituated in an exterior trough. The collecting trough may be closed oropened for access by rotating the two troughs relatively to each other.

The exterior trough suitably is fixed to the collecting trough or gutterand provided with a leg adapted. to facilitate the delivery of debris tothe gutter when the device is in the operative position.

One form of the improved device, as applied to a typewriter, is shown inthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the carriage, the device being in itsoperative position,

Fig. 2 is a cross-section, on a larger scale, through the device, platenand paper-feed means,

Fig. 3 is a similar cross-section in which, however, the device is inthe non-operative position, and

Fig. 4 is a section on the line IV-IV of Fig. 3 on a larger scale, toexplain the mounting of the device on the carriage.

In the drawing, the numeral I designates the carriage, 2 the platenmounted in the latter, and 3 the inclined sheet-feeding and guidingapron. The platen 2 is manually rotatable by means of the lateral knobs4.

Two brackets 5 are rigidly secured to the two narrow sides of thecarriage I, and each comprises a depending leg 6 which is provided withcounterstops 6a and 6b and with an open-ended slot I. Two housings thusare provided for receiving an apron 8 which comprises a longitudinalgutter 9. The center line of the gutter 9 coincides with the axis ofrotation of the apron 8, which axis is parallel to the platen 2. Theapron 8 generally is of the same length as the platen, but that portionof its longitudinal free edge which is parallel to the platen 2, issomewhat shorter.

An outside trough I4 which is of a shape similar to that of the gutter 9on the apron 8, and of the same length, is clampedly androtatablyengaged with the gutter 9 and has a leg I5 extending throughoutthe length thereof. A collar II through a stud I6 fixed thereto issecured to each lateral end of the gutter 9, and through a pivot pin I8fixed thereto is loosely inserted in the slot "I on the leg 6 of eachbracket 5. The apron 8 and the outside trough I4 thus are rotatably anddetachably mounted in the two brackets 5.

In Figs. 1 and 2, the apron 8 is shown in the operative position, beingdisposed within the range of the platen 2 and bearing, through its freelongitudinal edge, on the paper sheet A which is engaged with thesurface of the platen 2. Such operative position of the apron 8 isselected so that the latter will not be in the range of a line ofwriting on the sheet A when the typewriter is in action. When erasing,the sheet A is so adjusted by means of the platen, that the point oferasure is situated above the apron 8. The retainer I I which holds thesheet A in contact with the platen 2 and comprises two sheet-engagingrollers I2, then is swung back into its inactive position (Figs. 1 and2).

The debris produced on erasing thus is caught by the apron 8 on which itmay be swept by hand into the gutter 9. The apron 8, 9 then is swungaway from the platen into the position shownin Fig. 3, in which its freelongitudinal edge bears on the front bar I3 of the carriage I. Theretainer I I then is swung back into its sheet-engaging position (Fig.3). The paper sheet A and the platen 2 then are re-adjusted into theirappropriate positions on the carriage for the purpose of resuming thetypewriting operation.

On swinging the apron 8, 9 from the inoperative to the operativeposition, the exterior trough I4 is carried along by friction. Thetrough I4 during such movement, however, moves through a smaller anglein that a stop l4a afiixed thereto abuts against counterstop 6a fixed tothe bracket leg 6. On swinging the apron 8, 9 back to its inoperativeposition, the trough I4 again is carried along thereby over said smallerangle of displacement until stop I4a abuts counterstop 6b, when thetrough I4 is in its position of rest (Fig. 3) in which access to thegutter 9 is blocked by the trough I4.

For the purpose of emptying the gutter 9 from time to time, the apron 8is swung to its vertical position and lifted out of its housing-slots 1in the two brackets 5.

At least one of the two collars H which close ofi the gutter 8 at theendfaces thereof and which are provided with bearing pins, is removable.By removing such collar, the gutter 9 is opened at the respective end,and the accumulated erasuredebris may be readily discharged therefrom.In the non-operative position of the apron 8, in which it stands clearof the platen 2, it does in no way impede the operators vision.

If desired, the said stop means may be dispensed with. In such case, theoutside trough has to be manually rotated with respect to the apron 8for the purpose of rendering the gutter 9 accessible. Such manualrotation, in the example described, may be effected by means of the legl of the trough H.

The erasure-debris collecting device is not restricted in itsapplication to typewriters, but also may be provided onwriting-and-calculating machines for example.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In combination with a typewriter or like machine having a carriageand a platen, an erasuredebris collecting device swingably mounted onthe carriage and extending in the direction of the platen; the saiddevice comprising an apron of which the front end is formed as gutterand the rear end lies against the platen when in the operative positionfor collecting debris and against the carriage front bar when swung tothe non-operative position, the said gutter being of substantiallysemi-circular cross-section of which the centerline is coaxial with theaxis of swing, and an outside trough clampedly and rotatably mounted onthe outside of said gutter for the purpose of closing the latter in itsnon-operative position and of opening the gutter in the said operativeposition.

2. An erasure-debris collecting device as set out in claim 1, in whichthe outside trough has a leg adapted to facilitate the run of debrisinto the gutter when the apron is in its operative position.

3. In an erasure-debris collecting device as set out in claim 2, stopmeans adapted to limit the rotary movement of the outside trough so thatthe gutter is automatically rendered accessible for the debris onswinging the apron from its non-operative position to its operativeposition.

WALTER E'I'I'MUILER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 862,621 Egger Aug. 6, 1907 1,544,064 McNeal June 30, 19252,583,259 Ettmiiller Jan. 22, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date186,693 Germany June 28, 1907

